The "Law & Order" spin-off eliminates the familiar apprehension-and-prosecution cycle of its mother show; here, it seems, it's all about catching the bad guys.

But producer Dick Wolf's style is still recognizable. The show is smart without calling attention to itself. It's a hard-boiled New York cop show that covers its bases and avoids frills.

"Special Victims Unit" refers to sex crimes. In tonight's premiere, the unit investigates the murder of a cabbie who's been well and truly dismembered.

The show's sensitive theme is why producer Wolf, who usually has a valid beef about something or other, is unhappy with the 9 p.m. time slot -- 8 p.m. in the central zone. Wolf believes that the show should run an hour later, and he's probably right. But at least NBC bought his show.

That other guy is Richard Belzer, also known as detective John Munch of "Homi-- cide: Life on the Street." Apparently the guy can't hold a job. Tonight, there's little explanation for his transfer to New York, aside from his caustic vow that he'll never set foot in Baltimore again.

Wolf is a producer who's crossover- happy, as evidenced by past fusions of "Law & Order" and "Homicide." Now he's got a natural with "Law & Order" and its spin-off, both of them his own productions. Angie Harmon shows the flag tonight as Abbie Carmichael, and more is planned.

It's a solid show, if not exactly dazzling. Anyone who likes the tone of "Law & Order" and its use of New York as a noisy, colorful backdrop should be comfy with "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."

QUINLAN GETS MAD AND EVEN

Over at CBS, "Family Law" is the second legal drama to debut in two nights. I sense that CBS is highest on "Judging Amy," but "Family Law" is the better show.

Kathleen Quinlan stars as Lynn Holt, a Los Angeles marital attorney who arrives at the office one morning to discover that her husband-law partner has dumped her and swiped the furniture and legal files.

Tonight's pilot episode might be about getting mad -- in the most memorable scene, Quinlan launches into a rant as she angrily strips down to her undies in a legal conference room -- but the series also will be about getting even.

Rebuilding her practice, Quinlan hires Randi King (Dixie Carter, in one of her honey-dipped witch roles), who did jail time for killing her own husband. King: "Besides being a damn good attorney, I have only two qualifications. I hate men, and I play very dirty."

After you've seen about 30 new shows with actors who were born last week, it's nice to sit back and scrutinize a star like Quinlan, who brings sturdy and brittle qualities to her character at the same time. Quinlan gives Lynn Holt lots of good mileage, and still plenty of tread.

"Family Law" is made by Paul Haggis, the hard-luck producer who created "Due South" and "EZ Streets." He's due for a hit.

"Ladies Man" is apt to succeed in spite of itself. CBS has it nestled between "King of Queens" and "Everybody Loves Raymond" on Monday nights -- not the safest slot on TV, but hardly the most perilous. British actor Alfred Molina does a convincing New Yawkish turn as Jimmy Stiles, a furniture maker who finds himself surrounded by women.

Sharon Lawrence is his wife, Donna. He has two daughters (Shawna Waldron and Alexa Vega; different actresses appear in tonight's pilot episode), an ex-wife (Park Overall), a catty mother (Betty White) and a nettlesome mother-in-law (Dixie Carter, moonlighting in a recurring role).

TOO MUCH MOLINA

That's a lot of seasoned talent in one cast. And the show's executive producer is Chris Thompson, also the creator of Fox's "Action." Hard to believe that "Action" and this conventional sitcom share nativity, but it's true. Thompson would call it professionalism.

Problem is, the talent doesn't mesh into anything interesting. "Ladies Man" isn't awful. It's just too much of Molina acting put- upon and blustery, and asking every few minutes, "What'd I do?" It's a generic domestic comedy that amounts to TV mortar, compatible building material joining the shows before it and after it.

The WB's "Safe Harbor" stars Gregory Harrison ("Trapper John, M.D.") as a single dad and sheriff in a picturesque Florida beach town. The show is from the same creator, and in the same spirit, as "7th Heaven," which precedes it on the Monday schedule. That might tell you one thing right away. Harrison is a single dad not because he's divorced, but because he's a widower. Divorce is so . . . unsavory.

The family lives in an otherwise empty motel, where Harrison is joined by his three sons (Jeremy Lelliot, Christopher Khayman Lee, Jamie Williams) -- ages 16, 14 and 12 -- and his loopy mother (Rue McClanahan). "Safe Harbor" is a setup contrived to blend plenty of family drama, with Harrison being the tough but loving dad, and the occasional boat and car chases required of a seaside sheriff.

It's sugary drivel, of course, but from a production team that happens to be skilled in sugary drivel.

There's something about the Florida sunshine, the sea and wholesome family values that could keep this show bobbing on the surface.

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